"Well, if both of these horses
Just-a lay up and die"
He thinks to himself
As he stares into the sun
His companion's been bleedin
And is weeping to himself
Thinking "Oh, my sweet Sue
I won't be coming home now"

As the train tracks keep running
Up that ever gentle slope
Margaret Anne hangs her head
And just keeps wondering what's good
Her companion's been bleeding
And is weeping to himself
Thinking "Oh, my sweet Sue
I won't be a-coming home now"

That day that the rain came
And just rose the flag of war
Mother Jones lays in bed,
His children lyin on the floor
And she
Got by
Standing in the churchyard, singing hallelujah
Sweeping out the bats
From the bells of her voices

Who is she?
I am the river
And I will take you to the sea
And we
Got by
Floating in the water, singing hallelujah
Waitin on the lord
To bring us back home

You left us too soon
And I
I know what you'll do
Someone knocks in the back at the door
Oh, why'd you come, were you looking for more?
Don't sing
Then the sharp steel rattle of your head on the floor
Oh, it got lost in the sound of the war
Don't stay
Someone knocks in the back at the door
Oh, why'd you come, were you looking for more?
Don't speak
Then the sharp steel rattle of your head on the floor
Oh, it got lost in the sound of the war
Don't leave

And oh,
You left us too soon
Now there's two men ridin up
Both wonderin who is he
One says "Sir,
I've observed
you ridin up behind-a me"
Now them children
Hear em
Headed up around the bend
Cryin "Ma,
Best come on,
Here comes our fathers back to bed"

General CommentI believe the song is about a man who is dying due to a fight, or conflict, and has had many past lovers. He's feeling a great amount of guilt for all of his past transgresions(sp?) and is pleading with God.

I believe this, because the song mentions 3 seperate women who all seem to be wondering where their man is. Margaret Anne is hanging her head, because he left her too soon. And Mother Jones is left with his children. And his present mistress is Sue who he keeps thinking about, and is trying to tell her he won't be coming back.

The Song also mentions how the rain comes to wash away everything the man ever did for them.

This is obviously just my opinion, and it could be totally different. It just gives me that impression.

General CommentI think tucanwarrior13 could be right. I mean thats actually a pretty good interpretation even if its wrong. It gives me the feeling its in the west somewhere maybe even back in the wild west or "No country for old men" haha. But its an amazing song and you have to love the ending.